Fulfillment Of Need Research Articles

Effects of an online virtual community on customer loyalty and travel product purchases

This study is designed to: (a) investigate whether demographic and behavioral characteristics differ significantly among groups of online virtual community members; (b) identify factors that affect the community members’ loyalty; and (c) determine if the loyalty to an online virtual community would lead members to purchase products. A modified psychological sense of community scale coined by Davidson and Cotter (J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 116 (7) (1986)), and principles offered by McMillan and Chavis (J. Community Psychol. 14 (1986)), Bressler and Grantham (Community Commerce, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2000), and McMillan (J. Community Psychol. 24 (4) (1996) 315) is used as a foundation to develop new measurements for this study. The four factors of membership, influence and relatedness, integration and fulfillment of need, and shared emotional connection were found to be associated with a sense of online virtual community. Sixteen variables were found to explain the four factors. This study was based on empirical investigation of 351 travel related online virtual community members. Factor analysis, ANOVA, and multiple regression procedures were used to test the hypotheses.

Sense of community in science fiction fandom, Part 2: Comparing neighborhood and interest group sense of community

AbstractThere is much debate in community psychology literature as to the dimensions underlying the psychological sense of community (PSOC) construct. One of the few theoretical discussions is that of McMillan and Chavis (1986), who hypothesized four dimensions: Belonging, Fulfillment of Needs, Influence, and Shared Emotional Connection. Debate has also emerged regarding the role of identification within PSOC. However, few studies have explored the place of identification in PSOC. In addition, whereas PSOC has been applied to both communities of interest and geographic communities, to date little research has compared a single group's PSOC with a community of interest to their PSOC with their geographic communities. The current study explored PSOC with participants' interest and geographic communities in a sample (N = 359) of members of science fiction fandom, a community of interest with membership from all over the world. Support emerged for McMillan and Chavis' (1986) four dimensions of PSOC, both within participants' PSOC with their geographic communities and with their community of interest, with the addition of a fifth dimension, that of Conscious Identification. All dimensions emerged as significant predictors of overall sense of community in both community types. Participants reported higher levels of global PSOC with fandom than with their geographic communities, a pattern that also emerged across all factors separately. These results, and implications for PSOC research, are discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sense of community in science fiction fandom, Part 1: Understanding sense of community in an international community of interest

AbstractWithin the discipline of community psychology, there is debate as to the dimensions underlying the construct of psychological sense of community (PSOC). One of the few theoretical discussions is that of McMillan and Chavis (1986), who hypothesized four dimensions: Belonging, Fulfillment of Needs, Influence, and Shared Connections. Discussion has also emerged in the literature regarding the role of identification within PSOC. It has been suggested that differences in PSOC may be understood in terms of the degree to which members identify with their community (Fisher & Sonn, 1999). However, few studies have explored the place of identification in PSOC. In addition, whereas PSOC has been applied to both communities of interest and geographic communities, little research has looked in depth at PSOC within communities of interest. The current study, therefore, explored PSOC in science fiction fandom, a community of interest with membership from all over the world, by means of a questionnaire distributed at an international science fiction convention (N = 359). In an endeavor to clarify the underlying dimensions of PSOC, we included several measures of PSOC and measures of identification with the community in the questionnaire. Results showed that science fiction fandom reported high levels of PSOC. Support emerged for four dimensions of PSOC and an additional fifth dimension, Conscious Identification. These results and their implications for PSOC research are discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An exploration of sense of community, Part 3: Dimensions and predictors of psychological sense of community in geographical communities

AbstractWithin the discipline of community psychology there remains considerable debate as to the latent structure of psychological sense of community (PSOC). One of the few theoretical discussions is that of McMillan and Chavis (1986), who hypothesized four dimensions: Belonging, Fulfillment of Needs, Influence, and Shared Connections. Discussion has also emerged in the literature regarding the role of identification within PSOC. However, few studies have empirically investigated the role of identification in PSOC. The current study explored PSOC in a sample of residents of rural, regional, and urban geographical communities (N = 669). In an endeavor to clarify the underlying dimensions of PSOC, a test battery included several measures of PSOC as well as measures of identification with the community. The study also examined the role of demographic factors in predicting PSOC. Results provided support for McMillan and Chavis' (1986) four dimensions of PSOC. Further, a fifth dimension emerged, that of Conscious Identification, suggesting that identification is separate to existing dimensions of PSOC. The demographic factors significantly associated with PSOC were type of region, with rural participants displaying higher PSOC than their urban counterparts; participation in local organizations; having children; and a vision of one's neighborhood as broader than just a street or block. These results, and the implications for PSOC research, are discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

What Do School Counsellors Gain from Their Role as Psychotherapists?

The present study examines school counsellors' benefits from conducting psychotherapy. Following five in-depth interviews, the Counsellor's Psychological Benefit Questionnaire (CPBQ) was constructed. Content analysis resulted in six factors of benefits: 'Narcissistic Gains'; 'Vocational Benefits'; 'Improved Relationships'; 'Self-improvement'; 'Object Relations'; and 'Fulfillment of Needs'. The results obtained from 74 Israeli high-school counsellors clearly indicate that therapists are not 'selfless givers'. In fact, ranking of benefits was above the median score for all six factors. More specifically, our results show that therapists benefit most from 'Narcissistic Gains', 'Vocational Benefits' and 'Improved Relationships'. Second in ranking were benefits related to 'Self-improvement' and 'Object Relations' and last to 'Fulfillment of Needs'. These rankings were found to be statistically significant. Also revealing were the rankings of specific items included in the different factors. These results validate, to a large degree, the various theoretical-qualitative descriptions of therapists' gains from psychotherapy.

What Do School Counsellors Gain from Their Role as Psychotherapists?

The present study examines school counsellors' benefits from conducting psychotherapy. Following five in-depth interviews, the Counsellor's Psychological Benefit Questionnaire (CPBQ) was constructed. Content analysis resulted in six factors of benefits: 'Narcissistic Gains'; 'Vocational Benefits'; 'Improved Relationships'; 'Self-improvement'; 'Object Relations'; and 'Fulfillment of Needs'. The results obtained from 74 Israeli high-school counsellors clearly indicate that therapists are not 'selfless givers'. In fact, ranking of benefits was above the median score for all six factors. More specifically, our results show that therapists benefit most from 'Narcissistic Gains', 'Vocational Benefits' and 'Improved Relationships'. Second in ranking were benefits related to 'Self-improvement' and 'Object Relations' and last to 'Fulfillment of Needs'. These rankings were found to be statistically significant. Also revealing were the rankings of specific items included in the different factors. These results validate, to a large degree, the various theoretical-qualitative descriptions of therapists' gains from psychotherapy.